Aglianico, What Makes the Basilicata Pop!

Welcome to 2016 and our Italian Food, Wine and Travel group where every month we cover a different region in Italy. We're almost ¾ of the way through Italy before we go full circle. The beginning of 2016 we tackle some of the lesser discovered regions of Italy and they're all to the south starting with Basilicata.

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I've always appreciated all wines and of course I have some favorite Italian grapes, but the grape I'm sharing with you today, Aglianico, is one I have grown to love the more I try it. Earlier this week I shared a preview on the food, wines and travel to the Basilicata, but today I want to focus more on what Aglianico is and the wines it produces in the Basilicata.

All About Aglianico

Two of the main regions that use the Aglianico grape in their wine production are the Basilicata and also Campania. In Campania the wines to seek out are Taurasi and Aglianico del Taburno. In the Basilicata the 1 DOCG of the region is the Aglianico del Vulture Superiore. The Aglianico grape was believed to be brought to Basilicata by the Greeks. The Aglianico grown on the slopes of Monte Vulture in the volcanic soils that produce wines deep in color resulting in wines that are rich and robust. The temperatures of this area are rather cool so the grapes have a long growing season into the end of October that help the grapes to developer complexities and balance.

Grifalco della Lucania

Today I'm sharing the 2010 Grifalco della Lucania Aglianico del Vulture DOC. Deep ruby in color and lighter around the rim. This Aglianico is intense on the nose with a lot of tobacco, plum notes, cedar, a little smokiness and earthy as well as some cinnamon. Lots going on in this wine. Dry on the palette, full-bodied with bright acidity and a persistent intense finish. Retail: $16

The difference between the Aglianico del Vulture DOC and Aglianico del Vulture Superiore DOCG 

The biggest difference between the Aglianico DOC and DOCG wines of this region are mainly the aging process and lesser strict regulations including the DOCG wines only being able to be grown in Potenza where the DOC wines grown in either Potenza or Matera. This DOC wine only has to age 1 year in comparison to the DOCG again 2 years and 4 years for a riserva, but they are both are made of 100% Aglianico.

Follow my fellow blogger friends on their feature of the Basilicata and don't forget to join our live chat on Twitter Saturday January 2nd at 11am EST at #ItalianFWT. 

• Culinary Adventures with Camilla – Calzone di Verdure and Grano Dolce
• Food Wine Click – Basilicata Aglianico Eruption 
• Cooking Chat – Pasta with Pecorino and Bacon Plus Wine Pairing 
• The Wining Hour – Basilicata Aglianico and Veal Osso Bucco
• Rockin Red Blog – In Step in Italy: Exploring Basilicata Wine

February 6th we stay in southern Italy with Calabria.  See you then!

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